Te Pāti Māori and Greens Mongrel Mob meeting

The story so far

In mid-October 2026, Green and Te Pāti Māori candidates met Mongrel Mob members south of Auckland, and Marama Davidson defended the engagement while National and Labour criticised it.^{14 Oct} Footage then emerged of Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara campaigning during a visit to a Mongrel Mob gang pad in Auckland, which drew criticism from Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni.^{19 Oct} Labour said it would not give justice-related roles to Te Pāti Māori or Green MPs. A poll showed Kaipara two points ahead of Leoni in Tāmaki Makaurau, and Kaipara accused critics of racism during a debate.^{19 Oct} Kaipara claimed at a debate that Leoni had visited a gang pad, but Leoni denied this and said she attended a family fundraiser advertised as a Mongrel Mob chapter event.^{22 Oct} Leoni then resigned from Labour after footage showed her campaigning with gang members while wearing a party-branded jacket, which Labour leader Chris Hipkins called unacceptable.^{22 Oct}

Latest

Leoni has said she will sit as an independent MP if she wins the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate, following her resignation as Labour's candidate.^{26 Oct}

Key moments

1. 14 OctGreens and Te Pāti Māori candidates meet Mongrel Mob members south of Auckland
2. 19 OctFootage shows Kaipara campaigning at a Mongrel Mob gang pad
3. 22 OctKaipara claims Leoni visited a gang pad; Leoni denies it
4. 22 OctLeoni resigns from Labour after video shows campaigning with gang members
5. 26 OctLeoni says she will sit as an independent if elected

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.